Deciding on a new set of poker chips... (3 Viewers)

readmelikeabook

Sitting Out
Joined
May 6, 2020
Messages
12
Reaction score
25
Location
Bluffalo, NY
Looking to pull the trigger on a new set of chips and have been considering moving away from clays and opting for a set of these dia de los muertos ceramics.

Ive been using these bluff canyon china clays and they look and feel fine but i want something a bit nicer without spending Paulson kind of money.

I know tripling the price per chip doesnt mean it'll be three times as nice, and im not really sure about what to expect in the tactile differences, but would you consider this an upgrade? or a waste of money...

I've ordered a sample pack of the dia de los muertos and will have a better idea when they arrive, but in the meantime - does anybody have any other recommendations or outright prefer modern ceramics?
 
Looking to pull the trigger on a new set of chips and have been considering moving away from clays and opting for a set of these dia de los muertos ceramics.

Ive been using these bluff canyon china clays and they look and feel fine but i want something a bit nicer without spending Paulson kind of money.

I know tripling the price per chip doesnt mean it'll be three times as nice, and im not really sure about what to expect in the tactile differences, but would you consider this an upgrade? or a waste of money...

I've ordered a sample pack of the dia de los muertos and will have a better idea when they arrive, but in the meantime - does anybody have any other recommendations or outright prefer modern ceramics?
First thing first - those bluff canyon chips are not china clays they are cheap plastic sluggos (I still use them for tournament play, but only because we do that once every three months or so, and with that little usage I won't spend real money on chips for that). While I think they are good sluggos, china clays are lighter and feel a little better than these.

Now, as far as ceramics go, I got mine from @BR Pro Poker and yes they are three times better! My set is here https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/gene-kristil-micro-stakes-magic.53333/ and even my "less picky" players notice the world of difference between those chips and anything that anybody else in the group has. Go with @BR Pro Poker and you will not regret it. Be warned, some people will tell you that ceramics will get slick when they wear. Now while that is true, realize that in order to get that much wear it takes a casino YEARS! No home set will wear that much in a human lifespan. Get your samples, and if you like them go for it! They are well worth it.
 
First thing first - those bluff canyon chips are not china clays they are cheap plastic sluggos (I still use them for tournament play, but only because we do that once every three months or so, and with that little usage I won't spend real money on chips for that). While I think they are good sluggos, china clays are lighter and feel a little better than these.

Now, as far as ceramics go, I got mine from @BR Pro Poker and yes they are three times better! My set is here https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/gene-kristil-micro-stakes-magic.53333/ and even my "less picky" players notice the world of difference between those chips and anything that anybody else in the group has. Go with @BR Pro Poker and you will not regret it. Be warned, some people will tell you that ceramics will get slick when they wear. Now while that is true, realize that in order to get that much wear it takes a casino YEARS! No home set will wear that much in a human lifespan. Get your samples, and if you like them go for it! They are well worth it.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful response. And for the clarification that my current chips are in fact - shittier than what i thought. Im so happy to hear everything you just said - i cant imagine ill be able to resist spending most of that nice stimulus money on the set soon.
ALSO - your set is freaking incredible... 716!
 
Thanks so much for your thoughtful response. And for the clarification that my current chips are in fact - shittier than what i thought. Im so happy to hear everything you just said - i cant imagine ill be able to resist spending most of that nice stimulus money on the set soon.
ALSO - your set is freaking incredible... 716!
Send me a PM with a phone number I can text - I got some running around to do tomorrow during the day, I can drop off the Valentino samples I got before I ordered my set. That will let you get a feel for ceramics.
 
Send me a PM with a phone number I can text - I got some running around to do tomorrow during the day, I can drop off the Valentino samples I got before I ordered my set. That will let you get a feel for ceramics.
THATS some Buffalove right there. Appreciate the offer my man but save your gas - my DDLM sample pack (that was supposed to get here today) arrives tomorrow :D
 
Well, .......................did they show up?
You did NOT lie. These feel at least three times as nice as the sluggos. I might have got a bit carried away with the set but im sure it will last me a very long time. :) OFC ill post more pics when they get here. Im HYPED!
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot 2020-05-08 at 11.00.05 AM.png
    Screen Shot 2020-05-08 at 11.00.05 AM.png
    130.4 KB · Views: 189
I too am getting ready to pull the trigger on a set of DiaDe Los Muertos chips, and I have a set of Paulsons. Looking to get the DDLM to use more as a travel set or for when my son has his friends over for a game.
I love clays, but these ceramics are really really nice
 
You did NOT lie. These feel at least three times as nice as the sluggos. I might have got a bit carried away with the set but im sure it will last me a very long time. :) OFC ill post more pics when they get here. Im HYPED!
Honest question - what do you think you need a $50 denomination for?!?
 
Honest question - what do you think you need a $50 denomination for?!?
im thinking that will be our "50 cent" piece. I know i could have customized all the chips for microbets but wanted to feel like a baller with all the high denoms. They might still send me a proof of the chip that i have to approve so there could still be time to change it if you think is should switch it. (or just say screw it and customize all the denoms...)
 
Generally, you want 4 or 5 chips to match each higher denomination. If you have a $25 or $.25, it takes 4 of those to make a $100 or $1.00. The 50 is just cumbersome. You’re better off buying a few more 25s
 
im thinking that will be our "50 cent" piece. I know i could have customized all the chips for microbets but wanted to feel like a baller with all the high denoms. They might still send me a proof of the chip that i have to approve so there could still be time to change it if you think is should switch it. (or just say screw it and customize all the denoms...)
Generally, you want 4 or 5 chips to match each higher denomination. If you have a $25 or $.25, it takes 4 of those to make a $100 or $1.00. The 50 is just cumbersome. You’re better off buying a few more 25s
First - @Colquhoun is right - you are WAY better off with more quarters than adding a 50 chip. It doesn't make any sense having a 50 chip, and now you added another thing to have to make change for, which will make your life as host that much harder. Better off without it (and better learning this way before you waste money on something that will not get used)
Second - Are you planning on running tournaments and cash with the same set? While that is not recommended for security purposes (someone trying to cash in a tournament chip as cash at the end of the night), at least if you have accurate denominations on the chips you can easily say that "I never sold a $25 chip that was a tournament chip". It will make your life easier as host to be able to differentiate between tournament chips and cash chips.
 
Try Old Havana Poker Club if you like ceramics, still my favourite
 
U will not be disappointed with ceramic chips. I used my chipco set (very similar to br pro chips) for well over 15 years. They were used A LOT over the years (some time 3/4 nights a week) and still look decent (I apologize to anyone who has seen this pic before). ceramics will serve u well. Good luck.
 

Attachments

  • 1A2C8CF1-D3E1-48F3-9E7D-0B65FFE03353.jpeg
    1A2C8CF1-D3E1-48F3-9E7D-0B65FFE03353.jpeg
    188.2 KB · Views: 176
U will not be disappointed with ceramic chips. I used my chipco set (very similar to br pro chips) for well over 15 years. They were used A LOT over the years (some time 3/4 nights a week) and still look decent (I apologize to anyone who has seen this pic before). ceramics will serve u well. Good luck.
Plus they much easier to clean
 
im thinking that will be our "50 cent" piece. I know i could have customized all the chips for microbets but wanted to feel like a baller with all the high denoms. They might still send me a proof of the chip that i have to approve so there could still be time to change it if you think is should switch it. (or just say screw it and customize all the denoms...)
There are only a few valid reasons for having a 50c chip, and NONE of them include using it simultaneously with a 25c chip.

50c chips can be useful (and an efficient purchase) if you NEVER play stakes lower than 50c/50c or 50c/$1. One rack is plenty for 50c/50c, and you can get by with as few as 50 chips if playing only 50c/$1 or larger games.

50c chips work well in fixed limit games when limits are 1/2 (2-chip/4-chip game) or 2/4 (4-chip/8-chip game), but you'll need a whole lot more than just a single rack to play either game (plus some high-value $20, $25, or $100 chips).

50c chips work well in situations that also use only 10c, $2, $10, and $50 chips. This is a great way to split a single set into two non-overlapping cash and tournament parts, where the above chips are never used with the other 5, 25, 100, and 500 (and higher) value chips in the set. Properly configured, either subset can be used for cash or tourney play, so long as they are dedicated to that purpose.

But if you ever play smaller microstakes, 50c chips are a very ineficient use of chip purchase money, and they cause issues with game play whenever used simultaneously with 25c chips in any game.
 
There are only a few valid reasons for having a 50c chip, and NONE of them include using it simultaneously with a 25c chip.

I don't think I would ever normally disagree with the all mighty @BGinGA - I actually agree with you here on principal. However, many of my collections have both 25c and 50c chips. Why? Because the colors ... the pot splashes ... they are just so much nicer! I get an extra color on the table... it's bliss.
 
First - @Colquhoun is right - you are WAY better off with more quarters than adding a 50 chip. It doesn't make any sense having a 50 chip, and now you added another thing to have to make change for, which will make your life as host that much harder. Better off without it (and better learning this way before you waste money on something that will not get used)
Second - Are you planning on running tournaments and cash with the same set? While that is not recommended for security purposes (someone trying to cash in a tournament chip as cash at the end of the night), at least if you have accurate denominations on the chips you can easily say that "I never sold a $25 chip that was a tournament chip". It will make your life easier as host to be able to differentiate between tournament chips and cash chips.
Okay so I was pretty much thinking the same thing by just getting 200 25s but if im being brutally honest - I really just wanted to have each color chip haha... I will be using the set for mainly cash games but i think i could still do tourneys with this set too. Ive never run a tourney so thats uncharted waters. All of the people i play with are very close friends so nobody would even think about cashing anything they didn't really own. But still - 90 percent of the games will be cash. If i get into tourneys a lot - ill probably buy another set of a completely different chip and breakdown.
 
I don't think I would ever normally disagree with the all mighty @BGinGA - I actually agree with you here on principal. However, many of my collections have both 25c and 50c chips. Why? Because the colors ... the pot splashes ... they are just so much nicer! I get an extra color on the table... it's bliss.
It may be more appealing visually (to some, not all), but beyond having negative fiscal implications, it has a very real negative effect on game play, and also slows the game down.. Harder to count pots, harder to decipher and construct bets, harder to judge stack sizes, and takes more effort to split and re-stack won pots..... all of which take longer and result in a very inefficient use of available time and brain power.

More isn't always better -- a little extra color isn't worth all of the downsides. It can also be an unneccesary nightmare for people with color-blindness.
 
It may be more appealing visually (to some, not all), but beyond having negative fiscal implications, it has a very real negative effect on game play, and also slows the game down.. Harder to count pots, harder to decipher and construct bets, harder to judge stack sizes, and takes more effort to split and re-stack won pots..... all of which take longer and result in a very inefficient use of available time and brain power.

More isn't always better -- a little extra color isn't worth all of the downsides. It can also be an unneccesary nightmare for people with color-blindness.
I feel ya. I really just did it so i could have each color in the set. Theyll probably do more sittin in the case than jockeying around the table.. Ive got 900 other chips that can do the dirty work
 
It may be more appealing visually (to some, not all), but beyond having negative fiscal implications, it has a very real negative effect on game play, and also slows the game down.. Harder to count pots, harder to decipher and construct bets, harder to judge stack sizes, and takes more effort to split and re-stack won pots..... all of which take longer and result in a very inefficient use of available time and brain power.

More isn't always better -- a little extra color isn't worth all of the downsides. It can also be an unneccesary nightmare for people with color-blindness.

I agree with all your points. But I also think it depends on who you're playing with. For me, my crew like slower hands, lots of splashing, and lots of fun colors.
 
Okay so I was pretty much thinking the same thing by just getting 200 25s but if im being brutally honest - I really just wanted to have each color chip haha... I will be using the set for mainly cash games but i think i could still do tourneys with this set too. Ive never run a tourney so thats uncharted waters. All of the people i play with are very close friends so nobody would even think about cashing anything they didn't really own. But still - 90 percent of the games will be cash. If i get into tourneys a lot - ill probably buy another set of a completely different chip and breakdown.
You could just do what I do for the time being - use those bluff canyon chips for tournaments and use the ceramics for cash :)
 

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create account

Create an account and join our community. It's easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Back
Top Bottom